The golfing year of 2025 on the PGA Tour witnessed considerable command from the sport’s most recognized figures. Scottie Scheffler secured five victories, highlighted by triumphs in two major competitions (and an additional victory during the FedEx Cup Fall event, a prelude to the Ryder Cup), reinforcing his status as the world’s foremost golfer by a significant margin. Rory McIlroy achieved three wins, notably at The Players Championship and The Masters; the latter fulfilled McIlroy’s long-pursued ambition of achieving a career grand slam — a standout achievement of the 2025 golfing season.
Nonetheless, while the sport’s leading personalities continued to assert their dominance, other competitors showcased noteworthy performances, achieving seasons that surpassed anticipations, potentially including their own. There are eight individuals, specifically, who concluded 2025 in a vastly different position in the golfing world compared to where they began.
This compilation excludes the top two players worldwide, as Scheffler and McIlroy, despite their exceptional play, were already anticipated to excel, given their status as favorites in virtually every tournament. First-time victors Tommy Fleetwood and Cameron Young are also omitted. Although their performances this season were commendable, and their victories emotionally satisfying, their extended periods of underwhelming results rendered these wins more as overdue fulfillments of expectations rather than instances of exceeding previously established benchmarks.
Keegan Bradley
Few foresaw Bradley’s performance reaching a level where his omission from the U.S. Ryder Cup team would spark controversy. Indeed, many anticipated Bradley to encounter difficulties given the burden of captaincy. Conversely, he enjoyed one of his most successful seasons, with calls for him to be a playing captain reaching a crescendo after his signature event victory at the Travelers Championship. His subsequent performance was less impactful, but a top 10 finish at the Tour Championship appeared sufficient to convince himself of his value to the 12-man U.S. team at Bethpage Black. Ultimately, he opted against participating, possibly as a strategic motivational maneuver. However, this decision does not detract from his remarkable season, considering the off-course responsibilities he faced as U.S. captain.
J.J. Spaun
Spaun demonstrated the greatest improvement in the golf landscape this year. Ascending from 119th to 7th globally, he transformed from a player facing potential PGA Tour card loss to a major champion, Ryder Cup certainty, and consistent presence at the top of leaderboards. His performance at The Players, narrowly losing in a playoff to McIlroy, was notable, with many viewing it as Spaun’s seasonal pinnacle. However, a few months later, he surpassed this with a stellar showing, overcoming challenging conditions and a poor start on Sunday at Oakmont to secure his first major title at the U.S. Open. Spaun further solidified his year with a runner-up finish in a playoff at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, contributing to nearly $13 million in earnings and a second-place finish behind Scheffler in the U.S. Ryder Cup points standings.
Russell Henley
Did anyone anticipate Henley concluding the season as the world’s No. 4 ranked player? He continued to scale new heights in his mid-30s, securing his sole victory of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of eight top 10 finishes in significant 2025 events. Henley placed T10 at the U.S. Open and Open Championship, T2 at the Tour Championship, and recorded four additional top 10s in signature events, including a T2 at the Travelers Championship. In total, Henley earned over $14 million this season and achieved his inaugural Ryder Cup appearance, finishing fourth in points for the U.S. team.
Players such as Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay experienced performance declines relative to expectations during the 2025 PGA Tour season
Patrick McDonald
Ben Griffin
Two victories, ten top 10s (including two at majors), nearly $10 million in earnings, and a first-time Ryder Cup invitation for Griffin in 2025 constitute an impressive array of accomplishments, as he transitioned from a competent professional to a consistent presence on PGA Tour leaderboards. Griffin’s performance notably improved after missing the Masters, securing a win with Andrew Novak at the Zurich Classic before achieving his first solo victory a month later at the Charles Schwab Challenge. While a decline appeared possible in July, with missed cuts in both events played, he rebounded strongly, finishing T12 or better in each of the season’s final four events, solidifying his Ryder Cup captain’s pick.
Justin Rose
Few anticipated the 45-year-old Englishman challenging McIlroy at the Masters, but he nearly disrupted the year’s defining golfing narrative. He eventually triumphed at the St. Jude, defeating Spaun in a playoff, and added three more top 10 finishes, all in events featuring strong competitor fields. Prior to the 2025 campaign, Rose was among a limited number of potential uncertainties for the European Ryder Cup team, which was largely expected to consist of the same squad from Rome. However, Rose needed to reaffirm his capability at that level, succeeding in surpassing expectations and securing an automatic qualifying spot, eliminating any uncertainty regarding his inclusion.
Harris English
As one of the most consistent players on Tour this season, English secured his first victory since 2021 at Torrey Pines early in the year and sustained that level of performance. He finished second to Scheffler at both the PGA Championship and The Open, and recorded five additional top 15 finishes in signature and playoff events. This sustained performance in major tournaments propelled him from 73rd to 10th in the world rankings, ensuring his automatic qualification for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Similar to fellow Georgia Bulldogs star Henley, English is showcasing some of his strongest form in his mid-30s.
Chris Gotterup
Aside from those with expertise in college and amateur golf, Gotterup was not widely recognized among golf fans prior to 2025. Two exceptional weeks overseas elevated him to household name status in the sport. Gotterup’s victory at the Scottish Open was outstanding, as he challenged McIlroy and prevailed on Sunday. The following week at Royal Portrush, he finished third at The Open, behind Scheffler and English. Although he did not replicate those performances stateside, he added two more top 10s, including a T10 at the Tour Championship, elevating himself from the Tour card periphery into all major 2026 events.
Brian Campbell
Regardless of the event names or the competition, Campbell securing two victories in a season — as the shortest hitter on the PGA Tour — represents a notable achievement. Although his other results were limited — his wins at the John Deere and the Mexico Open were his only two top 25s — they proved sufficient to finish in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup and secure his entry into every significant event on the 2026 schedule. Campbell offers encouragement to shorter hitters, demonstrating that focused improvement in other aspects of their game can lead to victories. While a ceiling likely exists, given his struggles to compete consistently in signature events, majors, and playoff fields, his progression into the world’s top 60 despite limited distance is truly remarkable.
